LAST TIME ON GATE: THUS, THE JSDF AND REPUBLIC FOUGHT THERE…

As the third recon pulled out of the base and head towards Italica, 4 TX-130s came up behind them, carrying four troopers each. "The heck are those?" Itami mused before picking up his CB. "Hey Kuribayashi what are those behind us. They're obviously Republic." He asked.

Shino glanced in her rearview mirror before picking up her CB. "Those would TX-130 hover tanks sir. They're practically the republic's light tank."

"if that's their light tank, then I'm guessing that the AT-TE is either their medium or heavy tank." Itami mused before looking at Walker. "Why'd you call that in to reinforce our group?" Walker shrugged. "after our encounter with that dragon, I figured that you could use something that hits heavier that your fifty caliber. It might not be a mass drive cannon, but at least it's more powerful."

Itami smiled. "thanks." He said before Kurata slammed the brakes. "The fuck?" Itami cursed. "Why'd you slam the brakes Kurata?" Walker asked. "Smoke on the horizon." The driver said making both go wide eye.

Itami raised his binoculars while Walker lowered his range finder. "Son of a bitch. That's coming from Italica." The earth-born commander said raising his range finder. He shared a look with Itami and Kurata.

Nothing was need to be said. trading the scales would have to wait. Something happened to Italica… and they were about to find out what.

NOW THE CONTINUATION…

Walker, Itami, Kuribayashi, and a few clones dismounted. "Kriff, that's a lot of smoke." Hornet said causing the JSDF soldiers to look at Shino. Feeling their stares, she sighed. "It's practically like a swear word. Can we focus more on the fact that Italica may be under siege or worse sacked." Walker answered for her. The sergeant gave him a glance of appreciation.

The small allied convoy consisting of both republic and JSDF forces continued on their way to Italica fully on edge due to the smoke. They were unaware of just what they would be dealing with. They didn't know if there were survivors of the battle or not within the fortified city.

The small convoy pulled up to the gates and saw bodies that had arrows in them or were burned laying on the ground. "Huh. Guess there was a battle here." Walker said as Kurata brought the truck to a stop. "okay, Tuka, Lelei, Rory. I'd like for you girls to exit before Itami, and I do." Walker said turning to the locals.

"I see," Lelei said getting the earth-born commander's plan right away. "You think that if we exit the vehicles first they'll calm down and feel at ease when you two exit the vehicles." Walker nodded. "Most likely."

"Itami, since we're the highest-ranking officers of our respective groups in this patrol we'll represent the republic and JSDF respectively for first contact." The earth born commander said. Itami nodded seeing his logic. While Walker WAS the leader of the Galactic Republic's detachment to the special region. He himself, was currently the highest ranking JSDF personnel present.

Lelei exited first before Tuka followed. Rory soon after. Roughly twenty seconds after the three passed the Humvee, Walker exited followed by Itami. Walker, despite leaving his DC-15s in the Humvee, still carried his dual DC-17 blaster pistols

"So, think they'll be friendly?" Itami asked. "if anything scared. You did technically massacre the imperial army did you not?" Walker countered. "Mostly." The JSDF officer said. "What about your landfall?" Walker grunted. "Bunch of warlords. No allegiance banners of any kind."

Rory smiled and gave a satisfied hum. "if anything, Commander, you did the Empire a favor." She said gaining the two's attention. "How so Rory?" Itami asked. "Those warlords that Commander Walker mentioned. I wondered what happened to them." This confused the two further.

"They were a thorn in the empire's side as well as their vassals. So, if the Emperor were to learn of this. He'd definitely reconsider war with the republic." Rory said. "Yeah, and he'd want the republic as an ally against Japan. Something I won't do." Walker said.

"But you aren't Japanese." Itami pointed out. "I may not have been born in Japan Itami, but Japan is a part of Earth. And despite not living on it for some time, I still consider myself a citizen of it." Walker said as the approached the door.

Itami was about to knock when it was flung open slamming Itami in the face, knocking the lieutenant out cold. "Welcome to.." a red-haired woman began to greet the group before faltering at their surprised/amused glances though walker's couldn't be seen due to his helmet. "What?" she asked.

The earth born commander and locals simply turned their heads and looked at the unconscious man. "Oh. I did that, didn't I? sorry." Walker shook his head before heaving Itami's body onto his back.

"What the Kriff were you thinking?" Tuka scolded the woman splashing water from Walker's canteen. He had a few spares, so it didn't matter. "Interesting." Rory said not caring if her dress's skirt was getting wet. "What?" Walker asked.

"Tuka has been using your galaxy's slang much more frequently over the past nine days." The oracle said. nine days , that's how long it had taken for the shinies and JSDF to pick off every undamaged scale from the wyverns. Nine days since he'd tasked Blitz with looking after Tuka. Could she be?

Before he could ponder any further a groan caught his attention. "You good Itami?" the commander asked. "Yeah." He mumbled out as his vision came back into focus. Itami's eyes widened seeing Rory's smiling face looking down at him. "wait, what's my head resting on?" the lieutenant asked.

Walker smiled smugly. "Rory's lap. Is it comfortable?" he asked cheekily. Itami nodded closing his eyes before opening them in shock. "Argh!" he screamed making his associates to laugh, save for Rory. Walker noticed the oracle pout at Itami sitting up. She muttered something along the lines of 'I wouldn't have minded Itami resting his head on my lap a bit longer.'

The Earth born commander kneeled to her level and whispered in her ear. "you do realize that you look like you're thirteen and he's in his thirties. So, if you want to be in a relationship with him… I suggest growing up physically."

Rory blushed at the commander's insinuation. She couldn't grow up physically anymore. "I can't grow up physically, not since becoming an apostle for Emroy." Walker looked at her after helping her up. "You'll find a way Ms. Mercury. There's always a way."

"So, who's in charge here?" Itami asked, unaware of the exchange going on behind him. Everyone turned to look at the woman who accidentally slammed the door in his face. "HER!?" was the collective response.

After a mild shock of surprise and humorous misunderstanding, the remaining members of the joint JSDF-Republic recon group entered the city, save for the Republic's accompanying light tanks. Soon they would take part in a defensive battle against some former imperial soldiers turned raiders.

"So Princess, what's with the bodies outside?" Walker asked Princess Pina. "the city's been dealing with raiders recently." The princess said. Walker noticed that she was on edge. "Relax, if we wanted to conquer your Empire, we'd have done so already." The earthborn commander said.

Itami leaned close to Kuribayashi. "Is he bluffing?" he whispered. Shino furrowed her eyebrows. "I don't think he is. The Republic technically HAS the firepower to force Sadera into submission or even annihilate them, but knowing star wars lore, they'll go for peace before resorting to war if talks for peace don't work." The sergeant whispered back making the lieutenant nod.

"So why are you and the men in green here?" Pina asked walker. "We originally came to sell off some Wyvern scales, but that changed when we saw the smoke." Itami said. "I see." The princess said, relief evident in her voice.

"Would you like some aid?" Walker asked. This caught both the JSDF personnel and special region natives off guard. "Why?" Pina asked. "my men are always itching for a fight AND," walker said seriously before lowering his voice to a calming tone. "It's the right thing to do." Itami chuckled whilst Shino smirked somberly.

"Same here." Itami said. "Thank you." Pina said before walking to overlook a different gate. "Can you and you your men watch that gate whilst I remain at this one?" Walker frowned as Itami agreed. "Itami will, but mine will reinforce yours while being hidden from sight." He said. "I must object commander." The princess said

Walker turned to face Itami. "they'll most likely scout that gate. Itami you said that roughly the entirety of the Saderan army attacked alnus correct?" the lieutenant nodded. Walker then faced the princess. If there are any survivors of alnus hill amongst the raiders, they won't use that gate, but rather continue to assault the one we entered."

Pina frowned as her colleague, norma spoke up. "Are you saying that we're weak?" Walker shook his head. "No, I'm saying that they'll be smart enough to not attack a gate guarded by the JSDF."

After much deliberation, twelve clone troopers would stay at the gate overseen by Pina while Walker, Hornet, Doc, Blitz, and the rest went with Itami, and the others. The TX-130s would remain hidden and would open fire should the need arise.

Walker cursed under his breathe. "He's still peeved?" Itami asked. "Oh yeah, walker can hold a grudge." The reason behind Walker's anger was that norma threatened to kick them out if he didn't go with Itami and forbid him to trade. That earned the knight a punch to the face before the compromise was made.

As nighttime came, Walker flipped his rangefinder down while hornet flipped his binoculars down whilst blitz and Doc pressed a button on their wrist coms. Itami and the others looked to Shino for answers. "Oh," the sergeant said seeing their questioning gazes.

"Hornet's helmet attachment also acts as a type of NVG(1), same can be said for Walker's rangefinder. Though Blitz and Doc has me stumped." Shino said scratching her head at the last part. "It's a relatively new piece of tech. Allows the user to not need attachments. Though its only for troopers with armor like theirs." Hornet said.

"COOL!" Shino said, stars in her eyes. "And she thought Itami and Kurata were weird." Kuwahara said causing Shino to freeze and shakingly turn her head. She sweat dropped seeing her fellows soldiers smirking smugly, everyone save for the two the sergeant major mentioned as well as the troopers, whom crossed their arms. "Ah let her have her moments old school." Itami said. Shino mentally smiled. 'I guess Kurata wasn't lying that he and the lieutenant wouldn't laugh at me.' She thought.

Rory noticed that Itami was struggling with what the rest of the men in green called their 'night vision goggles'. She approached him. "Would you like some help?" the oracle asked. The lieutenant smiled. Thanks. Much appreciated." He said

"I must ask though. Why help the princess of an empire that attacked both of your homeland?" Rory said. He and Walker looked at each other. Walker, despite not living on Earth for some time still translated that as his place of birth.

"To help protect this town, of course." Itami said. Rory, heart fluttering smiled. "You really meant that?" she asked taking Itami's helmet from him. "Of course we did." Walker said. "The Republic values peace more than anything. In fact, before the clone wars, the only form of military might it had was a small judiciary force." This took both the apostle and the JSDF lieutenant by surprise. "No actual army? Why?" Itami asked.

"There was no need. The republic's main enemy was gone prior to the Clone Wars and it brought over one thousand years of peace." The commander said. deciding to change the subject, Itami turned to Rory. "So, do you care about what's going on?" he asked

"Emroy is the god of battle you know." The apostle said making Walker raise an eyebrow. "Death and destruction come with the territory, but there is motive, it is the most important thing." Itami looked at her after he fastened his NVG(1) to his helmet.

"If your purpose isn't righteous then deception will sully your soul." Rory finished as she placed Itami's helmet back on his head. "Well, since Walker and I weren't lying when we said we wanted to help… then there's no problem." Itami said. "But we do have another reason." Itami said, raising his helmet before glancing at the Earthborn commander

Catching Itami's insinuation, Walker nodded and looked at Rory. "We want to show the empire a different way. That the Republic and the JSDF aren't some big enemy of theirs." He said as Itami continued for him. "We want the princess to understand that she can talk with us."

Rory smiled. "I like it. I can't wait to fight alongside the two of you." The two commanding officers sweat dropped. "I think you mean Itami more so than me." Walker said. "I'm married Rory." Itami blinked but before the lieutenant could say anything he saw that Rory was blushing.

Several hours went by and nothing occurred. It seemed that there wasn't going to be a battle, the 3rd recon couldn't have been any more wrong.

"Kriff this is boring. Hornet said sitting down and leaning against the ramparts. "I agree," Shino said. "But we need to stay vigilant. Aren't you guys engineered for war?" hornet looked at her. "Yes, but with there being peace in the galaxy, we though that the clone army would be decommissioned." He said making Shino hide her hateful eyes.

The clone troopers were her favorite characters from star wars. She hated the fact that Palpatine got rid of them shortly after the fall of the republic. To her, a single clone could most likely best a squad of storm troopers.

A tear trickled down her face. "You alright?" the clone lieutenant asked seeing the tear. "I'm glad… to see the Republic still standing after the clone wars." Shino said leaning against hornet before falling asleep, making him blush beneath his helmet. 'holy Kriff! She's sleeping on my shoulder.' Hornet thought as Shino snored softly.

"she looks kind of cute resting against you now doesn't she?" came the voice of his CO(2). "no, she looks beautiful sir." Hornet said before freezing. He turned to see Walker, Rory, and Itami smirking. "Commander!" the lieutenant whispered harshly. "Relax, we won't say anything. Right, you two?" Walker said. Itami and Rory nodded. Hornet sighed. "but you're going to tell the boys aren't you?" he asked.

"Oh, yes." The Earthborn commander said grinning beneath his helmet. "This is payback for me teasing you about your relationship with Riyo isn't it?" the heavy gunner asked. Walker nodded. "Have you gotten Blitz yet?" Hornet asked. "No, but I will shortly." Walker said before looking at Blitz, who was chatting with Tuka.

Walker frowned. "Then again, I won't." he said. "Why, because he's your brother in all but blood?" Hornet asked. "No, I don't want to ruin the moment." Hornet turned his head in a way so he didn't wake Shino. His eyes widened as he saw Tuka had a hand on the side of Blitz' face. The four noticed that the Captain's helmet was off.

"So, this is what you all look like underneath those helmets?" Tuka asked. "Yeah, Got the scars from trying to arrest Palpatine." Tuka frowned, Blitz had what appeared to be a burn scar on the right side of his face and his right eye was a 'cybernetic' eye. "I see. Who's Palpatine?" Tuka asked. "Story for another time."

Just after he said this, distant blaster fire caught their attention. "The hell?" Walker muttered before his commlink crackled to life, blaster fire clear as day in the background. "Commander, the raiders have struck the gate that we came in, just as you suspected." The clone said.

"They're trying to climb the ramparts. We're taking potshots when we can, but the knights would prefer we not intervene." Walker nodded. "Understood. Ignore his orders and join the battle. Keep your distance though. If they get too close… you know what to do."

"Understood sir." The clone said. Walker looked at Itami. This was going to be a long night. The battle of Italica had begun.

1-night vision goggles

2-Commanding Officer